Improvement in inkstands



" T0 @ZZ whom it may concern,.- l

NrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

LUOIEN E. HICKS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND RUFUs E.CRANE,

OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN INKSTAN DS.

Be it known that I, LUcrEN EfHIcKs, of the city and State of New York,have invented, made, and applied to use a certain new and usefulImprovement in Inkstands; and I do hereby declare the followin g to be afull, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference beinghad to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, wherein-Figure l is a plan of my said inkstand, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionof the same.

Similar marks of reference denote the same parts.

Inkstands have heretofore been constructed with a bowl above theinkstand at the end of a pipe passing down into the ink, into which bowlthe ink has been forced by atmospheric I pressure within the inkstand,produced through the agency of an elastic diaphragm.

The nature of my said invention consists in an arrangement of elasticdiaphragm, in combination with a pipe and bowl acted on by a key in sucha manner that the raising otthe said bowl by the key draws air into theinkstand, while the releasingof the said key, and the consequent descentof the pipe and bowl, causes the said elastic diaphragm to produce asufcient compression on the air within the inkstand to form a pressurethat elevates the column ofink into the said bowl, and when it isdesired to allow the ink to descend into the stand from the said bowl itis effected by raising a valve that allows the compressed air in theinkstand to escape and the ink to ind its own level.

In the drawings, a is a reservoir, of any desired size or shape, closedat the top, except an opening at l. The upper part of this reservoir isformed as a convex surface, around which is an under-cut ledge, 2.

b is an elastic diaphragm of rubber, setting upon this convex surface,the edges of which diaphragm are held iirinl y against the undercutledge 2 b'y means of the flange 3 of the metallic cap c. In the centerotthis diaphragm b is a section ot' a rubber tube, d, standingvertically above the opening I, the lower end of said tube d restingupon the top of the said reservoir around this opening l, and said tubeand diaphragm are to be formed in one piece or cemented together.Through this tube d passes the pipe c, that terminates at the upper jend in a bowl,f, and at the lower end a flexible pipe, g, passes awayand lies on the bottom ofthe said reservoir a. Around this tube d is athiinble of metal or other material at z' having a rib or flange, 4,beneath which a fork-lever, h, is placed, that Sets upon a fulcrum, 5,and is provided with a key, k, at the other end. By the depressing ofthis lever hat one end by the key k, the thimble i, tubed, bowlf, andpipe e will be raised and the diaphragm b distended. This creates apartial vacuum in the inkstand, drawing air into the same through e andg, and when the said key is relieved the contraction of the diaphragm band descent ot the pipe c produce a sufficient compression of the air inthe inkstand to cause the ink to rise in the tube e and bowlf sufficientfor use. The key 7c can be screwed farther in, or unscrewed, as desired,and the end of the tcrew on 7c, taking the surface of I), determines theamount of motion that is given to the diaphragm and tubes, andconsequently the height to which the ink shallrise in the said bowl f.The pipe g, being flexible and curved, as shown, always remains with theend resting upon the bottom of the inkstand, even when the pipe e andbowl are raised; hence all the ink in the inkstand can be used so longas said ink is sufficiently deep to cover the end of said pipe g.

In order to relieve the atmospheric pressure in the inkstand and allowthe ink to run down out of the cupf, I employ the valve l, that isformed of an elastic tube, 6, cemented in the diaphragm b near one side;and 7 is a hollow cap of metal or other material grasping this tube 6and passing through an opening in the cap c; and 8 is a spring around 7,between b and c, to keep the lower end ofthe tube 6 closely upon thesurface of the reservoir a. By lifting this valve the diaphragm bisraised sufficiently to let out through 6 and 7 the air from within theinkstand, and equalize the pressure so that the ink may find its level.

It will be apparent that the section of rubber tube at d allows for theentrance or re,

moval of the pipe e of the bowl f, and makes the parts air-tight at thispoint.

I have found that the rush of ink up through the tube c into the bowlfis sometimes so great as to spurt over the,bowl. I therefore haveformed the end of said pipe with holes in the side, as at 9, and closethe end ofthe pipe itself, as represented, in order to check thisimpetus ofthe ink, and cause the same to flow up into the bowl moregraduaily.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The elastic diaphragm b, resting upon the top ofthe reservoir andsecured by the cover or cap c, in combination with the elastic tube d,formed with or attached to said diaphragm and receiving the tube e ofthebowl j', whereby7 said tube and bowl are sustained, but can be raisedfor drawing,` air to the reservoir7 as set forth.

2. The flexible tube g, in combination with Ehe tube e and bowl f, forthe purposes set 'orth.

3. The air-valve Z, applied as shown, in combination with the diaphragmI), tube e, and bowl f, as specied.

' 4. The forked lever h and key 7c, in combination with the thimble i,tubes d and e, and bowl j', as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The holes 9 at the sides of the tube leading to the bowl to preventthe ink jetting or spurting up in the bowl, the end of said pipe beingclosed, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 30th day ofMarch, 1863.

L. E. HICKS.

Witnesses THos. GEO. HAROLD, CEAS. H. SMITH.

